Land O' Lakes High Gator Gazette

Our school is buzzing with activity in April and May, with many exciting and important events lined up! For our upperclassmen, there are two major events to look forward to: Grad Bash at Universal Orlando for seniors on April 5, and the much-anticipated Prom on April 26. We've shared all the details about these events on our website. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sabrina Hydes at shydes@pasco.k12.fl.us.

In a unique approach to recognizing our staff, we have decided to honor our employees in April instead of May, as May is fully dedicated to national, state, and local student exams. This year, Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week will be celebrated from April 22-25, instead of the usual first week of May. We kindly request families to donate $10 gift cards for our staff, which are always well-received and greatly appreciated. If you can contribute, please drop off the gift cards at the main office by April 17. Please note that the school cannot accept money to purchase gift cards. While gift cards are wonderful, heartfelt notes of support and encouragement are truly cherished. Please consider showing your appreciation to our hardworking staff in any way that feels right to you.

Lastly, the spring testing calendar is included below. It is crucial for your student to be present and fully engaged during these exams, as each test is important for graduation requirements, earning college credit, or contributing to final course grades. If you have any questions about these tests, please reach out to your student's school counselor.

Warm regards,

Ric Mellin - Principal

We are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week from April 22-25. It is a special time to honor and thank our teachers for all they do. Teachers play a huge role in helping students learn and grow, both academically and personally. By celebrating this week, we show our gratitude for their hard work, creativity, and dedication. It reminds us how important education is and how much teachers contribute to our communities. Recognizing their efforts helps motivate and encourage them, making sure they feel valued and respected for their vital role in shaping the future.

At the same time we are celebrating Staff Appreciation Week. This is our chance to celebrate the incredible support staff who keep our schools running smoothly. This includes Instructional Assistants, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) staff, custodians, school secretaries, and coaches.

Let's take this week to show our gratitude for their hard work and dedication. Their contributions are essential, and we are truly grateful for everything they do.

April 7-11, we celebrate National Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, honoring these hard-working educators who ensure our school runs smoothly. Their dedication, commitment, and passion for education are the foundation of our thriving school.

Their leadership supports teachers, students, and parents, fostering a positive and growth-oriented environment. Thanks to their guidance, we have achieved remarkable success and look forward to even greater accomplishments.

A special thank you to Mr. Batchelor, Mrs. Beerman, Mrs. Marriott, Mrs. Nienaber, and Mrs. Wall. Your tireless efforts and pursuit of excellence are deeply appreciated. Your impact on our Gators community is immeasurable!

April 5 Grad Bash . If you are attending Grad Bash please read the emails from Mrs. Hydes on Mystudent.

April 17 4th Quarter Progress Reports

April 26 Prom at the Venetian Event Center. 7-11pm. See the senior letter for important information

April 30 ALL online classes must be finished to participate in graduation.

May 12 Optional Cap and Gown Pick up Night 5-7 in the Commons

May 14-16 DISTRICT FINALS for Seniors.

May 19 DISTRICT FINALS Makeup for Seniors. ALL SENIOR FINALS MUST BE COMPLETE BY THIS DAY. NO EXCEPTIONS

May 27 Invitation Only Awards Ceremony (More Info to come)

June 3 Senior Breakfast. This is MANDATORY for all seniors who wish to participate in graduation.

June 5 GRADUATION. 6pm at Yuengling Center, USF. Students must arrive no later than 5pm.

We will be offering a Cap and Gown Pickup Night for seniors on Monday, May 12, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Commons. Seniors or parents of seniors will only be able to pick up their own gown during this time. If a senior is unable to attend the pickup event, gowns will be distributed at the Senior Breakfast. Additionally, cords will also be given out at the Senior Breakfast. Be sure to come by to collect your gown and cords and get ready for graduation!

Yearbooks are still on sale! They are now $85. There has been some confusion with some people trying to purchase the yearbook on RYCOR. This year, if you had previously put it in your online cart but didn't complete the order, the yearbook option is no longer available and has to be manually put in your cart by the bookkeeper. If you are trying to purchase the yearbook on RYCOR, and don't see it as an option or are having an issue, please contact Mrs. LaBarbara at llabarba@pasco.k12.fl.us or call the school and ask to speak to the bookkeeper.

If your student is interested in taking yearbook class or being part of the Swamp Talk news show (Journalism 2) next year, please reach out to Ms. LaBarbara to inquire. Students taking these classes are required to attend events outside of school for taking pictures and getting interviews. Students must have a strong work ethic and should be highly motivated.

See our LOLHS Swamp Talk YouTube channel for more school news, promotional videos and additional fun content from the Swamp Talk journalism students.

Ticket Information:

• Seniors: Tickets go on sale March 24, 2025.
• Juniors: Tickets go on sale April 1, 2025.
• Price: $90 per ticket.
• Sales End: April 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM or until sold out. No refunds will be issued.
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Questions about the prom go to Mrs. Sabrina Hydes at shydes@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Grad Bash is April 5. Seniors that have paid and turned in their permission slips will need to be at LOLHS on that day by 3:30pm. We will return to LOLHS around 4am. Please make sure your ride is aware. Click here for the Grad Bash dress code.

If your student took the SAT- School Day, scores will be available on the College Board website.

Student can get personalized practice recommendations based on their results. Click the link and follow the steps to connect with the College Board and Khan Academy.

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/steps-linking-college-board-khan-academy-accounts.pdf

Any student that completed a semester class at the beginning of January, please return your textbook to the Collaboratory (Media Center). Students can come before school, during lunches and after school to return books and check their library accounts. ALL textbooks checked out for the 2024-25 school year are to be returned by the last week of school

After your child has taken state assessments, you can access the results through the Pasco Parent Portal. Log in by going to http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/parents. Scroll down to School/Classroom Resources and click on myStudent. Log into the system.

1. To access basic information, click on your child’s picture/first name on the left-hand side of the screen. Then choose Test History. A list of tests will appear. To view the results of a test, click on the light gray arrow to the right of the name of the test. Your child's testing information will appear.
2. To access an Individual Score Report (if available), click on Portal at the top of the left-hand navigation column. In the middle of the page, under your child’s name, you will see several tabs and an icon that says Florida Statewide Assessments. When you click on this icon, you will be taken to the Florida Statewide Assessments Family Portal icon. From here, you will be able to download Individual Score Reports. Using the drop-down at the top, you can access previous years' score reports.

Students, mark your calendars for an event that could shape your future! Don't miss the Beyond Career and Tech Expo - your gateway to a future full of possibilities!

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025

Cypress Creek High School

8701 Old Pasco Rd, Wesley Chapel

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Discover exciting and diverse career paths, connect with industry professionals, and get a head start on your journey toward success! Don't miss out on this invaluable opportunity. To attend, students must register with Ms. Colon, Career Specialist. For more information, please contact: sfraneco@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Congratulations to the Lady Gators Soccer players who were named to the SAC All Conference teams.

1st team

Annabelle Bokor

Eve Douglas

2nd team

Lily Puhala

Maliya Maldonado

Kendall Wallace

The Lady Gators celebrated their 2024-2025 season with their end of year dinner & awards ceremony on March 13. Congratulations to all our team members for the great season.

We are excited to announce that Coach Shawn Millard has been named the Week 6 Buccaneers High School Girls Flag Football Coach of the Week! Coach Millard has led the Gators to an incredible start this season. With an impressive average of 30 points per game, the Gators are on a mission for a state title in year 1!

The Buccaneers select nominees based on several criteria, including having a winning record, beating a longtime rival, snapping a losing streak, defeating a defending champion, or recording an amazing comeback victory. Coaches are also evaluated on their commitment to player safety, rapport with players, relationships with game officials, leadership on the field, involvement with outside organizations, community programs, and relationships with other coaches.

Congratulations to Coach Millard and the Lady Gators!

Consistently recognized as one of America's Best High Schools. Rated B by the Florida Department of Education. Named a 2025 Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America. An International Baccalaureate and Cambridge World School.

Website: lolhs.pasco.k12.fl.us
Location: 20325 Gator Lane, Land O' Lakes, FL, USA
Phone: 813-794-9400

X: @lolhsprincipal